The dealers, Atul Shah and Mahaveer Kankariya, had poured drain cleaner down the surveillance camera in their Diamond District store in an attempt to cover up their scam, law enforcement authorities said. They filed a $7 million insurance claim after their jewels went missing, but they never collected on the claim.

Justice Thomas Farber of State Supreme Court in Manhattan convicted both men of attempted grand larceny, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. Both men had faced up to 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors in court on Friday asked for a sentence of three to nine years.

Before the defendants were sentenced, a teary-eyed Mr. Shah asked the judge for mercy.

“I will live with the fact that I have brought this sin and terrible hardship on my entire family,” he said. “I am begging Your Honor for mercy so that I will be able to see my parents before they die.”

Justice Farber said that the defendants were raised in good families and should have known that it was wrong to lie and steal.

“I believe I am dealing with men who are basically good people who did bad things,” Justice Farber said before sentencing the men. “While I believe that the expression of remorse is genuine, it comes after the conviction.”

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